Working in the pharmaceutical industry in India can be highly rewarding with the right qualifications. Pharmacists have always been prominent professionals in the healthcare industry as they pursue pharmaceutical courses to bridge the gap between a patient and their access to life-saving medication. Pharmacists in the research sector formulate newer and better drugs to fight diseases, and pharmacists in the retail sector work in pharmacies to provide patients with prescribed or over the counter drugs.
Over the last couple of years, the role of pharmacists has been amplified due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There was a huge surge in the need for qualified pharmacists to develop life-saving vaccines and drugs to halt the pandemic. The world owes a huge debt to these dedicated professionals for the service they have provided to fight COVID. If you wish to join the pharmaceutical industry, there are a number of courses you can pursue to make a career in the industry.
Which Pharmacy Courses are the Best after Class 12th?
There are different types of pharmacy courses at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels that you can opt for after completing class 12. You need to analyse your career goals and resources to pick the right pharmacy course that is apt for you. Let’s take a look at some of the most globally-recognised pharmacy courses you can pursue to make a career in this field:
Diploma in Pharmacy (D.Pharm)
About the Program
Diploma in Pharmacy is an undergraduate program spread across 2 years. It is perfect for career-oriented professionals who want to work as pharmacists in leading pharmacies across India, or pursue entrepreneurship by investing in a pharmacy of their own.
Eligibility
Students who have completed class 12th from a recognised board with minimum 50% aggregate marks can apply for this program. They should have studied Physics and Chemistry as compulsory subjects, and Biology or Mathematics as optional subjects.
Career Scope
Professionals holding a D.Pharm qualification can work in pharmaceutical chains, independent pharmacies, and pharmacies within hospitals, clinics and healthcare centres. They can also work in pathology labs and research labs. Furthermore, they can also launch a pharmacy of their own and go into business for themselves. They can earn an average salary ranging from INR 2 lakhs to INR 3.2 lakhs at the start of their career, depending on their job profile and place of employment.
Professionals holding a D.Pharm can be hired as:
- Pharmacist
- Junior Scientific Officer
- Junior Analytical Chemist
- Research and Development Executive
- Pathological Lab Assistant
Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm)
About the Program
This is an undergraduate program spanning across four years and eight semesters. This is the best pharmacy course you can pursue if you wish to go for higher studies in pharmacy including M.Pharm followed by a PhD.
Eligibility
Students who have completed class 12th from a recognised board with minimum 50% aggregate marks with Physics and Chemistry as compulsory subjects, and Biology or Mathematics as optional subjects are preferred for this program. Some of the top pharmacy colleges in Nashik offer scholarship-cum-entrance exams to merit students who wish to pursue pharmacy.
Career Scope
After completing this program professionals can work in multiple sectors within the pharmaceutical industry ranging from research labs to well-known pharmacy chains. Many government and private sector pharmaceutical companies have excellent job opportunities for these professionals. They can earn an average salary of INR 3 lakhs to INR 5 lakhs at the start of their career, depending on their skills and the sector of employment.
Here are the top career opportunities open to professionals with this qualification:
- Analytical Chemist
- Drug Inspector
- Drug Technician
- Research Scientist
- Drug Therapist
- Research Officer
M.Sc in Pharmaceutical Science
About the Program
This is a postgraduate program in pharmaceutical science spanning across two years and four semesters. M.Sc in Pharmaceutical Science is a research-intensive program with a pedagogy that focuses on building each students’ research capabilities. After this program, candidates can go on to pursue a PhD in pharmaceutical science for better career opportunities.
Eligibility
Students holding a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from a UGC-recognised university with minimum 55% aggregate marks in the qualifying examination are eligible for this program.
Career Scope
This postgraduate program can act as a launching pad to many career opportunities across the pharmaceutical industry. Professionals can engage in ground-breaking research and development in diverse fields like biotechnology, life sciences, microbiology, forensic science, analytical chemistry, etc. The average salary that professionals holding this degree can earn is INR 4 lakhs to INR 12 lakhs.
Top career opportunities to pursue with this qualification are:
- Research and Development Scientist
- Regulatory Affairs Officer
- Quality Control Officer
- Forensic Scientist
- Synthetic Chemist
- Microbiologist
- Associate Scientist
Conclusion
The pharmaceutical industry is thriving and this is the right time to pursue a career in the industry. You can join one of the best pharmacy colleges in India if you are sure about pursuing a career in pharmaceutical science. Just make sure that the college you pick has well-equipped labs for industry-synced skill development and 100% placement assistance as well. This will help you build the right skills to attract the right career opportunities in the pharmaceutical sector. Good luck!